The Spectrum, Volume 60, Issue 20 by The Spectrum Student Periodical

t h e

m u s i c

• Autopunch Battle of the Bands winners Page 7 • Win big Take the Gaga challenge Page 11 • Homecoming Meet T. Bagginz Page 5

Buffalo, New York www. ubspectrum .com

i s s u e

• Rock on Guitar hero vs.Rock Band Page 7 • Making it Fighting For First’s story Page 7 • Coming soon New albums Page 9

The independent student publication of the University at Buffalo

SPECIAL EDITION October 18, 2010 Volume 60 Issue 20

m a rc h i ng b a n d

u b m u sic

A department with national renown UB graduate music composition program ranks high across the nation BRENDON BOCHACKI Asst. News Editor

Karen Larkin /The Spectrum

After 37 years without a marching band, the Thunder of the East Marching Band was established in 1999 when the football team moved up to Division 1-A.

Sound of thunder

BRIAN JOSEPHS Asst. Sports Editor

In the football team’s season opener, junior wide receiver Ed Young caught a perfectly thrown ball in the end zone for the Bulls’ first touchdown of the season. The marching band’s drumline erupted to the sound of the crowd’s excitement. The brass and woodwind sections joined in to provide

the ideal soundtrack to the Bulls’ 31-0 victory over Rhode Island. Buffalo’s marching band, the Thunder of the East, is present at all of the home football games. They provide the musical backdrop to all of the Bulls’ triumphs and defeats. The first band at UB was formed by a group of students in 1920. It was primarily managed by students – with minor success – until high school band director John Krestic

sp i r a l s c r at c h r eop e n s w i t h hop e

agreed to take charge in 1950. The band grew until it disbanded in 1962, when the University at Buffalo joined the SUNY system. After 37 years, the band returned as the Thunder of the East when the football team moved up to the Division • see THUNDER | page 4

Unknown to many students, the music department in Slee and Baird Halls is home to one of the most highly respected graduate music composition programs in the nation. “For about 40 years or so, UB has been a major player in the national and international contemporary music scene,” said David Felder, SUNY distinguished professor of music and Birge-Cary chair in composition. “It has been a home to leading composers since that time, and we have an internationally recognized faculty.” Along with a number of his colleagues, Felder is widely considered to be a leader of American music composition, as his works have been featured at festivals around the world. The graduate composition program at UB is best known for its contributions to the field of contemporary classical music, a

Douglas Levere / UB News Services

SUNY Distinguished Professor of Music and Birge-Cary Chair in Composition, David Felder is widely recognized in the world of American music composition, along with a number of his colleagues.

category that is difficult to define and often characterized by modern composition techniques a nd experimentation. As part of this experimental focus on contemporary music, graduate students in the program are given a freedom in their work that they would likely not receive in other schools of the same caliber. • see MUSIC | page 4

e v e r y t i m e i di e

Hometown

heroes JAMES TWIGG

Senior Arts Editor

Courtesy of Benjamin Gardner

Dave Palumbo, owner of local vinyl record store Spiral Scratch, reopened his establishment at 291 Bryant St. in August with the help of local vinyl and music collectors.

Local vinyl store reopens in the Elmwood Village BRITTANY CESAR Staff Writer

Record stores have always been a hub for music enthusiasts to sift through vinyl records, gain knowledge of music’s past and present, and meet fellow music aficionados in the process. Exciting news came to Buffalo this past August when one of Buffalo’s only vinyl shops re-opened on 291 Bryant St. after it caught fire at its old North Buffalo location.

Spiral Scratch suffered the catastrophe as a result of a faulty neon sign that set fire to nearby curtains and damaged the storefront. Although the store experienced minimal structural damage, the fire sparked many other complications, including water damage to the stock. After the fire, saving the future of Spiral Scratch became a story of support amongst local vinyl and music collectors who • see SPIRAL SCRATCH | page 2

Courtesy of Every Time I Die

Though not widely known as a music city, Buffalo is the home of many successful acts that have garnered national attention. Brutal metalcore band Every Time I Die is one of the best examples of this. Brothers Keith and Jordan Buckley formed Every Time I Die in Buffalo. Since its formation in 1998, the band has been a widespread sensation that has headlined numerous tours and released five studio albums. Every Time I Die is not a band for the quiet and reserved; it is more known for mixing metal and hardcore with southern rock influences. Over the years, Every Time I Die has been forced to reshape its lineup. The band currently consists of Keith Buckley on vocals, Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams on guitar, Josh

Weather: monday: 55°/ 39° mostly cloudy | tuesday: 56°/ 42° sunny | wednesday: 59°/ 49° partly cloudy

Inside:

Despite numerous lineup changes, Every Time I Die continues to tour and work on new tunes.

Newton on bass, and Ryan Leger on drums. With the exception of Leger, who was preceded by Mike “Ratboy” Novak, this incarnation of Buffalo’s favorite hardcore band released the critically acclaimed album New Junk Aesthetic in September of last year. “[The reception has been] positive, overwhelmingly so,” Newton said. “I’ve seen it claimed as a ‘return to form.’ I find this laughable. It’s not like the last record was an acoustic album.” From its amped up and gritty riffs to the overall quality of Buckley’s vocal talent, New Junk Aesthetic was a meticulously crafted album for the ages. With an album as polished and impressive as the band’s last outing, opinion — 3

arts & life — 5

it may come as a surprise that Every Time I die is not all business when tracking an album. “[When writing an album] we tend to just get together, laugh at each other, and riff,” Newton said. Anticipation for Every Time I Die’s next album has been running high ever since New Junk Aesthetic was claimed a success. According to Newton, the band has yet to start working on it, but it has been hard at work developing new material for its fans to enjoy. “We have a new DVD that comes with the record. On said DVD, you can expect the usual shenanigans and hijinks we tend to get up to,” Newton said. • see ETID | page 2 classifieds — 15

sports — 16

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

etid | Coming to Buffalo for the holidays continued from page 1

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Every Time I Die guitarist Jordan Buckley co-founded the band in Buffalo.

For those hoping to see said shenanigans in person, don’t fret. Every Time I Die wrapped up the Hell On Earth tour in Germany this past Saturday with Terror, The Acacia Strain and several others. On Nov. 1, Every Time I Die will be back on home turf to kick off their S*** Happens tour with Trap Them and Howl. Unfortunately for Buffalonians, the tour, like a few that came before it, won’t be stopping in Western New York. The band, however, will make it back home before the end of the calendar year. Every Time I Die has held an annual Christmas show in Buffalo since 2005, and they have put it on every year despite difficulties. For a hometown fan of the band, little else can live up to it. “It’s just a fun thing we enjoy doing,” Newton said. “It’s become increasingly difficult since only two of us live in Buffalo, but it’s still worth it.” For a band like Every Time I Die, the number of shows performed and tours taken is impressive. For Newton, narrowing it down to just one favorite show is simply impossible. Still, one overall tour does tend to stick out in his mind. “[Vans] Warped [Tour],” Newton said. “In ’06 sharing a bus with The Bled, ’08 getting to watch The Bronx everyday, and ’10 getting to see Alkaline Trio and Dillinger Escape Plan. Such a fun time.” Whether it’s for their live performances, their musical talent or even just for their self-described hijinks, Every Time I Die is one band that many homegrown Buffalonians can appreciate. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

spiral scratch | Vinyl making a comeback continued from page 1

pitched in to help re-open the store. News of the store’s disaster quickly spread through message boards and blogs. With the help of several benefits, local shows

www.specialevents.buffalo.edu

(including one at Mohawk Place on June 3) and donations from across the country, owner Dave Palumbo was able to get the vinyl store back up and running. “Everyone was helpful, and I don’t think we would have been able to re-open [without their help],” Palumbo said. Spiral Scratch embodies the charm of the Elmwood strip and is heavy in foot traffic, which continues to help the small local business. Inside the new store are vibrant neon green flyers, and eccentric posters cover the windows. Elmwood Avenue has seen a number of record stores come and go in the past, including Home of the Hits and New World Records, which lost a stable consumer base with the rise of digital music sales and illegal file sharing. Spiral Scratch has filled the role that those stores couldn’t make it in the Elmwood Village as an intimate, old school record store that has become a new meeting place for record junkies. Palumbo has a laid back attitude, and customers often find themselves caught up in an authentic music exchange that could never occur over a music blog. Palumbo has been known to remember the faces of the customers that he encounters in the store and offers passion for old and new music alike. The name Spiral Scratch is derived from a 1977 release by the Buzzcocks, a British punk rock band. The vinyl store offers music selections in rock, punk, hardcore, indie, jazz, and country. Everything from Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg to bands like Sonic Youth and Black Flag can be found in the store. For customers who can’t find what they’re looking for, Palumbo is always willing to take special orders for rare record material. “I sell what people want, but the real joy is turning people on to something they haven’t heard yet,” Palumbo said. Recently, there has been a resurgence of vinyl, especially among the indie and punk crowds. Vinyl records offer a raw, rich and vibrant sound that CDs or compressed MP3 files are unable to capture. “I’m drawn to the physicality [of it],” said Nick Torsell, a senior English major. Torsell is a co-host of the “Jeff Torsell Project,” a talk show on

source: http://spiralscratchrecords.blogspot.com/

This calculator was one of the victims of the record store fire.

Monday nights from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on UB’s streaming radio station at WRUB.org. He has been a patron of Spiral Scratch for several years. “[Vinyl records] become more real, something you just have to pay attention to [that are] not just a folder on the computer,” Torsell said. According to Palumbo, not everyone in the music community has joined the vinyl record movement. “[Popular CD stores] haven’t caught on to the vinyl explosion,” Palumbo said. “For me, [vinyl records] never left.” Although downloading MP3 files and ordering online media have become the most convenient way to acquire new music, more people are treating their ears to a richer sound by buying music on vinyl. Paul Weingart, a senior media studies major and a local DJ under the name DJ Wallnuttz, was unaware of the reopening of the store. “I [have to] check this out,” Weingart says. “There’s music out there that I have trouble finding online and vinyl is great quality.” Weingart says he is attracted to the novelty of vinyl and experiments with a vinyl turntable. Spiral Scratch maintains an online blog along with a small circulation ‘zine’ called “Scratch and Sniff.” The store is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, check out the Spiral Scratch blog at http:// spiralscratchrecords.blogspot.com/. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Opinion 716.645.8566

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Andrew Wiktor Managing Editors David Sanchirico, senior Luke Hammill Amanda Woods Editorial Editor Jeff Pelzek News Editors Lauren Nostro, senior. Brendon Bochacki, asst. Amanda Jonas, asst. David Weidenborner, asst. Arts Editors James Twigg, senior Jameson Butler John Connelly, asst. Vanessa Frith, asst. John Hugar, asst. Nicolas Pino, asst. Life Editors Jennifer Harb, senior. Katie Allen, senior. Steve Neilans, asst. Sports Editors Matt Parrino, senior Jacob Laurenti Chris Rahn Brian Josephs, asst. Photo Editors Clinton Hodnett, senior Renee Huo Megan Kinsley. Karen Larkin, asst. Sam Zakalik, asst. Web Editor Adam Cole Copy Editor Meghan Farrell Graphics Designer Aline Kobayashi

Professional Staff Business Manager Debbie Smith Administrative Assistant Helene Polley Advertising Manager Marissa Giarraputo Advertising Designer Christopher Lonzi Creative Directors Chris Caporlingua, interim Jeannette Wiley The views expressed — both written and graphic — in the Feedback, Opinion, and Perspectives sections of The Spectrum do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Submit contributions for these pages to The Spectrum office at Suite 132 Student Union or spectrum-editorial@buffalo. edu. The Spectrum reserves the right to edit these pieces for style or length. If a letter is not meant for publication, please mark it clearly as such. All submissions must include the author’s name, daytime phone number and e-mail address.

The Spectrum is provided free in part by the Undergraduate Mandatory Activity Fee

OCTOBER 18 , 2010 VOLUME 60 NUMBER 20 CIRCULATION: 10,000 The Spectrum is represented for national advertising by Alloy Media and Marketing The Spectrum offices are located in 132 Student Union, UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-2100. Telephone: (716) 645-2468. Fax: (716) 645-2766. Copyright 2010 Buffalo, N.Y. The Spectrum is printed by Buffalo Newspress PO Box 648, Buffalo, NY 14240-0648.

www.ubspectrum.com/opinion

No excuses for Afghan civilian murders United States should distance itself from crimes against humanity When a child decides to run amok in someone else’s home, it is important for his or her parents to apologize on behalf of the child and the family. Similarly, it was a good move for the United States to make amends with Afghanistan after several U.S. soldiers murdered a multitude of Afghani civilians. It is difficult to acknowledge such madness as a reality, and it becomes even harder to appreciate its gravity when the crime was committed by someone on our side while fighting under the pretext of preventing tyranny and terror. To be fair, nobody that lives stateside can truly understand the stresses of the Afghan war. Films and media can only attempt to recreate the constant anxiety over middle-of-the-night attacks and the spontaneity of a hidden bomb. Even the subtlest nuances of war can push some soldiers over the edge. Imagine being armed to the teeth at all times and wearing a uniform that subscribes its wearer to a cause that involves killing a lot of people. Perhaps, to varying degrees, they are all victims of subconscious mental change and posttraumatic stress. But thousands of United States soldiers are involved in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and most of them can deal with wartime stress without their anxiety manifesting itself violently. Many of them look at Calvin Gibbs and Jeremy Morlock with no sympathy at all.

The horrifying accounts of random civilian brutality could make one’s skin crawl. Though not always the direct murderer, Gibbs is being tried as the master conspirator, having threatened some of his fellow soldiers into contributing to the senseless killing. The media has subtly suggested that these killings were a result of Gibbs’ persistent hashish habit, but such reasoning is without logical ground, and it was a pathetic attempt to excuse such madness by blaming murderous insanity on a relatively benign drug. As far as where the United States should stand on the issue, it can go two ways: we can blindly stick by our troops in a hopeless attempt to save face, or we can acknowledge the crime and distance our military and ourselves from the rash behavior of a few rogues. We are glad that the military has chosen the latter. Taking tertiary responsibility for the murders was an important step in acknowledging such brutal crimes against humanity, and it shows that we can only maintain the guise of civilization if we admit to our mistakes and fix the kinks in the line of command. Though some will try to make a case to defend the soldiers in question, excuses for their crimes seem ridiculous. Trauma is a factor in the job that they signed up for, and most soldiers take great responsibility with the power they possess with their weapons.

French removal of Romani people is xenophobic Displacement policy resembles American immigration dilemma Even Americans get touchy when the term “xenophobia” gets thrown around. But it is difficult to put it any other way, as France sanctioned a removal of thousands of Roma, or “gypsies,” from its political borders this year. But if the French are offended by such a designation, they can sit with the rest of us who are uncomfortable with the messy New York City vagabond that sings loudly to himself on the subway. Speaking in terms of cultures, many fear the outsider. Though dealing with similar problems concerning Mexican immigrants, the United States does not suffer from the exact same kind of drama. Europeans, in general, place more importance on heritage; so whether a person is French or not actually means something in France. Thus, the seemingly bi-conditional view that each French person must be a citizen and of a French bloodline raises questions about how humanistic the Roma removal can claim to be and how much of the incentive we can trace back to basic ethnocentrism. Though most of the headlines read that France is removing “illegal immigrants,” it seems that their equivalent border patrol continues to target Romani people specifically. We wonder, as in any similar case, as to what degree these people are being profiled. Granted, gypsies are widely considered to be a nuisance, haunting urban European transit

depots and harassing passersby for money, only to then demand more money. Refusing to donate will sometimes result in being on the receiving end of a curse. Such animosity toward refused generosity unnerves even the non-superstitious. Arguably, Romanian poverty is not France’s problem, and the removed Romani people are all illegally within the borders of sovereign France, not paying taxes and contributing only to urban blight. But France can offer some rights to noncitizens, and the direct and physical removal and displacement of an entire race of people seems a bit extreme. Similarly to the United States, if France wants to ride the moral high horse and if it wants to be known as a superior humanitarian nation, then it needs to check its apparent narrow-mindedness and begin efforts to assimilate a group of people that will probably find their way back to France anyway. Trying hard to mask the ubiquitous fear of “the other,” France will be hard pressed to find means to successfully defend its own xenophobia, especially as the means of remedying French comfort comes down to physically removing an entire ethnicity. Despite whatever opinions one has about French people, remember that we are knee-deep in a similar issue on the home front, and the United States is not handling it with an admirable moral finesse, either.

T h e Wo r d A r o u n d C a m p u s

CAREY BEYER

Staff Writer

A cup of Green Tea The midterm election season is in full swing and students are having a much harder time trying to stay politically ignorant. If they watch TV, they see political ads. If they pick up a newspaper, they see political stories. If they walk down the street, they see lawn signs. The biggest story this year is how the Tea Party movement is taking the conservative vote by storm. Across the country, registered Republicans have decided that very fiscally conservative candidates should be put into office. After the first two years of the Obama administration, much of the country has become displeased with the direction that some of the enacted policies have taken us. Still others have become displeased with the growing feeling that nothing is being accomplished. It is because of this that the midterm elections are all but gift wrapped for the Republicans. During the primaries earlier this fall, the country was witness to the real power of the Tea Party movement. The group that had been viewed up to that point as nothing more than passionate rabblerousers came out in droves to upset many of the more moderate Republicans. The two most well known of these were the nominations of Delaware’s Christine O’Donnell and Buffalo’s own “cranky” Carl Paladino. From the very beginning, these nominations came under fire. After O’Donnell upset Mike Castle, Karl Rove blasted her for being an unelectable candidate. Love him or hate him, Karl Rove is a political genius and a heavyweight in the Republican Party. His anti-endorsement will turn off most of the more moderate voters in the state. This alone would not seal a loss for the Republicans, but as O’Donnell is now more famous for being a witch who hates masturbation than for being a candidate for the Senate, it is unlikely that she will be able to win. Paladino’s road has been very similar. After he upset Rick Lazio in the Republican primary, Paladino was looking at the possibility of having to run against both Democrat Andrew Cuomo as well as the new independent candidate Rick Lazio. This, of course, would have been absolutely unwinnable, so for the sake of the party, Lazio dropped out of the race and put his support behind Paladino. For a short time, polls showed Paladino gaining on Cuomo. This was until the mad candidate started to show his true self. His past e-mails became public and his run-in with a reporter started to lure potential voters away from the idea of giving Paladino the chance to take a baseball bat to Albany. In his most recent debacle, he came out as a blatant homophobe and when given the chance to retract his words, he stood by the hateful things he said. It may be going out on a limb, but I do not think Paladino stands a chance. These are not the only Tea Party candidates. There are some that have legitimate chances of being elected, but as many of these nominees are political neophytes, mistakes and inexperience are weaknesses for their campaigns. This will only hurt their cause.

Although not quite as raunchy as Generation’s personals once were, these are voices of UB students who have something to say. If you want to be heard, too, write us a blurb online at ubspectrum.com. Five of the wittiest remarks will appear in the paper in no particular order. (Edited for grammar.)

At the turn of the century, one of the most steadfast names in politics was Ralph Nader. Nader, a man made famous for his consumer advocacy, was a liberal candidate who seemed to always have his name on the ballot for the Green Party.

Dude. Recycling is not difficult. Recycling bins are literally right next to trash cans in dorm kitchens. Put your cans, bottles, newspaper, paper, and cardboard where it belongs...NOT IN THE GARBAGE! Please and thanks.

To those who stand outside entrances to buildings handing out cards to events: I wish you wouldn’t discriminate with whom you are handing those to. Thank you, Annoyed Invisible Fat Student

Those who supported Nader would have called themselves Democrats in any other year. Nader had no chance of actually winning any election he ran in. What he did accomplish, however, was taking much-needed votes away from Democratic candidates. His actions, although made with the best intentions for his cause, were instrumental in the Democrats’ failure.

Are UB girls hotter in relation to hot weather? Direct or indirect relationship?...Direct.

K’naan, the modern day Bob Marley

To the cute boys who do the Arts section: wouldn’t say no

Much like Nader, these candidates have taken it upon themselves to see that their beliefs are represented. Also like Nader, these candidates have no chance of winning. All the Tea Party will do in November is lose races and split votes. The lasting effect of this movement will be nothing more than to save seats that the Democrats should have lost. E-mail: ccbeyer@buffalo.edu

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

thunder | Precise style of performance continued from page 1

I-A level in 1999. When current director James Mauck took command, there were only 37 musicians. After a few years under Mauck, the Thunder of the East grew to the 160 members it has today, and it remains one of the only collegiate level bands in New York State. “It was the dedication of the students [that helped the team to grow],” Mauck said. “We were also consistent in putting everything we

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had into great performances.” The Thunder of the East has been put to extensive use since its inception. The band has been invited to perform at exhibitions, high school football games and high school competitions, and is always met with a positive reaction. “[The reaction] has always been wonderful,” Mauck said. “I have a stack of positive e-mails commenting on how well the band was performing and the energy and style of music from this semester alone.” The marching band incorporates a unique “drum corps” style of performance. The style favors precision in the brass and drumming sections in contrast to the popular showy performances of the south. “[Drum corps] is not quite militaristic,” said Stephen Stauffer, a senior chemistry major. “But they are very

precise… and so it’s a very heavy feel. Mr. Mauck is a big fan of drum corps and he tries to style himself after the Blue Devils [a world class band]… and we want to kind of be like them.” This precise style of performance requires a lot of dedication from the band members. Their preparation started on Aug. 21, when the musicians moved into their homes for the semester. According to Kevin Robert Jones, a freshman biochemistry and computer science major, the band practiced two four-hour sessions per day during the weeklong camp. During the sessions, the band members went through long hours of rehearsal to perfect their craft. “I got here a week [before other freshmen] for band camp,” Jones said. “It was brutal, but afterwards it was really fun.”

After the camp concluded, the team started to practice three nights a week at Walter Kuntz Field. There, the band works to maintain their reputation under strict supervision. “[Mauck] is harsh at times,” Jones said. “But it’s just so he can make us better.” The practice prepares them for wherever they are invited to perform. Last Saturday, for example, the Thunder of the East was invited to play at the 101st game between the Tonawanda and North Tonawanda high schools. Their performance at halftime was well-received. Despite the strong outside praise, the Thunder of the East is primarily the Bulls’ home marching band. Students are treated to the band’s music at every home football match. “I think [the marching band]

is good,” said Ruth Freier, a senior English major. “I like all the patterns they do while they are playing.” However, the band is often overshadowed by the football team. A number of students don’t pay attention to the band’s efforts. “They’re not the main focus of the games,” said Peter Kuchera, a freshman engineering major. “That’s probably why they aren’t too recognized.” Still, the band maintains that its primary goal isn’t stardom. Band members only want to please the crowd with strong performances. “[The goal] is to have fun first of all and to pump everybody else up,” said Danielle Rowe, a sophomore engineering major. “We also want to get everybody excited and involved in the game.” E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

music | Numerous high-profile concerts seen each year continued from page 1

Trevor Björklund, an assistant professor in the music department and a recent graduate of the composition program, feels that the independence the students have in directing their own work is the most commendable characteristic of the program.

“The composition faculty members are very [interested in] helping young composers bloom on their own,” Björklund said. “A lot of other places tend to push people in a particular direction but UB doesn’t. It tends to attract people who have a slightly different take on things.” According to Björklund, the

high quality of the compositions of graduate faculty is also a major factor responsible for the department’s prestige. Complementing the educational freedom is a state-of-the-art recording studio, The Lejaren Hiller Computer Music Studios, which is available to graduate students.

Cort Lippe, associate professor of composition and director of the studios, says that although students today have the luxury of being able to do most of their composing on their own computers, they often make use of the studios as a work nears completion. “Students can do a significant portion of projects with their own equipment,” Lippe said. “They usually wait until a certain point in their work to make use of the studios, when, for instance, they need to hear the results in a high quality multichannel environment, need more computing power, or need specific software they do not own.” Another major factor in the establishment of the composition program and the department as a whole is the numerous high-profile concerts and events that the department presents each year. “We bring in well known, internationally recognized performers for five or six concerts over the course of the year,” said Jeff Stadelman, associate chair of the music department. “It’s the only place in the world where someone can have the opportunity to hear live each year all of the Beethoven string quartets.” The most prestigious performance event, however, is the June in Buffalo music festival and conference that showcases the compositions of a handful of musicians chosen from around the world each year. “June in Buffalo is a very major attractor,” Felder said. “We bring in the leading ensembles and leading composers, and then we also solicit emerging composers from around the world to apply. The UB reputation is extremely enhanced internationally by that festival.” In addition to the national and local composers and musicians that perform pieces at the festival, a number of faculty members and upper level graduate students from the UB program participate in the event as well. Throughout the year, the music department performs numerous concerts and events in the performance halls of Slee and Baird, ranging from undergraduate student groups like the UB Symphony Orchestra to professional ensembles from around the world. According to Stadelman, some of the most exciting events each year are the performances of the cornerstone ensemble of the department, the “Slee Sinfonietta.” The group, founded by Felder, is a professional chamber orchestra in residence at UB. It is made up of faculty members, grad students, and some local professionals. The d at e s of t he Sle e Sinfoetta and the rest of the performance schedule can be found at http://www.slee.buffalo.edu. E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com

Arts & Life

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t b a g gi n z

Bagginz drops beats for Homecoming Carnival JENNIFER HARB Senior Life Editor

T. Bagginz has arrived. Known by some as Trevor Eckman, a junior communication major, Bagginz will be rocking the stage at the Homecoming Carnival this Friday. Rapping has come naturally for Bagginz, but it’s been a long road. Trying to gain credibility as a white rapper has proven to be a difficult feat, but his persistence and passion has brought him to the front stage during UB’s Spirit Week. “I just started freestyling in the back of cars; at parties I sometimes would spit,” Bagginz said. “But then I kept freestyling and I kept getting better, and then I was like, ‘Maybe I should take this seriously.’” When Bagginz started releasing songs on YouTube, the added exposure garnered much more attention from his peers and even attracted the ears of producers.

“I would promote [the songs] through my Facebook page, my fan page... My friends would help me spread them,” Bagginz said. “Everything just picked up from there. A few different producers had contacted me to work on some new music.” Bagginz originally rapped over popular industry beats, making each song his own by creating new lyrics. As his popularity and credibility grew, other producers began supplying their own original music. “People outreach to you as an artist because beat makers are working just as hard as I am to get their music out, so we just come together,” Bagginz said. “That’s why you’ll see on my mix tape a mix of industry songs that I’ve remixed and then my own originals. It comes with the progression of how much my exposure has gone up.” What started off as a hobby quickly became more than that. Bagginz was contacted to perform at a number of Rochester venues,

Courtesy of Trevor Eckman

By day, Trevor Eckman is a junior communications major. However, you may know him as popular rapper T. Bagginz.

including Dub Land Underground and Water Street Music Hall. However, as a white male from a Rochester suburb, gaining credibility in the rap world wasn’t as simple as one may initially believe. “First of all, I’m white. The red flag goes up there,” Bagginz said. “I think what makes me unique, though, and I’ll take some criticism for it… I’m only going to rap about what I can relate to and what I’ve gone through.”

Bagginz’s raps focus primarily on past relationships, athletics and college partying, and are mixed with similes, metaphors and a plethora of punchlines. The lyrics are geared toward the college crowd, so many students may find his songs relatable on a number of levels. “You’ll never find me talking about violence or guns or the struggle because I can’t relate. I came from a middle class family in the suburbs, so that’s what you’ll find me talking about,” Bagginz said.

According to Bagginz, other young, white rappers inspire him to keep pursuing his musical calling and ignore anybody who discredits him because of race. “White rappers are doing it right now. Chris Webby, Mac Miller and Sam Adams have all proven that there is this genre in the college circuit of party music,” Bagginz said. “I dig Asher Roth a lot, another pioneer • see BAGGINZ | page 10

c olu m n s

When do police officers cross the line? The events that happened on Friday night at the Buffalo bar crawl seemed so unrealistic when they occurred that I almost felt like I was watching my life from a television screen. It was around 1:30 a.m. when I stood on the curb outside of Pure nightclub with a group of my friends. The street in front of Pure was packed with participants of the bar crawl, and the line to get inside the club started four bars back. Two police officers stood in front of the nightclub patrolling the area. Looking at them, I could tell that the last thing they wanted to do was be on the lookout for overly drunk individuals. I witnessed my friend get tackled and dragged by one arm and one leg across the street, only to be tossed under a car. While my friend was lying on the ground, the same individual proceeded to kick him several times in his rib cage. Once my friend was back on his feet, a man grabbed him by the throat and pushed him up against a car. After that, four other men came at him and threw him on the ground in unison. He did not even attempt to defend himself. These individuals were the Buffalo police officers. When I tried to stop these cops from brutally hurting my friend, they told me that I needed to step away or I would be next. I did not touch the cops nor did I make a threatening comment toward them. If they would have arrested me, it would have been on completely false charges. It is unknown why these men brutally attacked my friend. He did not pull a

KATHERINE QUINN Staff Writer

A breath of fresh air

weapon out on them, he did not threaten them, he did not yell at them, and he did not attempt to touch them. He may have made a quick remark; however, when did it become illegal to talk to a cop in a non-threatening manner? I found out the next morning that the cops had arrested my friend on charges of assault. Although I am unsure of the exact nature of what happened between the cop and my friend, I am certain that my friend did not present a threat of harm toward the cops. His only problem was that he was in front of the wrong cop, at the wrong time, on the wrong night. Police officers deserve a lot of respect for the terrible things they have to see and deal with each day. They do a tremendous job protecting citizens from the awful crimes we hate to read about. But after the events I witnessed Friday night, the only thing that comes to mind when I think of an officer of the law is disgust. I am disgusted by the amount of power they have and the horrible things they can do with this power if it is taken too far. An officer’s job is to serve and protect Buffalo citizens, not brutally violate them. So I pose this question: Is there a point where a cop can cross the line with the amount of harm he is allowed to inflict on a civilian? If the answer to that question is yes, then what can the citizen do to prove the cop overstepped his boundaries? The most likely answer is nothing unless the entire situation is video recorded. Does that scare anyone else besides me?

The set lights are set up perfectly, the instruments are tuned, and the iconic Hall and Oates record is propped up on the amp. The Gaslight Anthem is ready to take the stage.

E-mail: kquinn@buffalo.edu

Whether it’s the intimate

On almost every other night, Brian Fallon and crew would dazzle the crowd with their onstage antics and mesmerizing live show. But most nights aren’t spent playing in Clifton Park. People in the front row have their arms crossed and complain at max volume to their friends about the pushing. Their complaints can be heard through the earplugs. This is not how a person in the front row should be spectating a concert. There are hundreds of variables that go into putting on a great show, but the most important is the crowd. The Gaslight Anthem has some of the most die-hard fans in the punk industry, which makes every one of their shows amazing. The fact that the band seemed to want to leave the stage due to frustration with the crowd was irritable to say the least. I can’t count how many times a horrible crowd has been the sole culprit for the demise of a show. The one characteristic all of these shows had in common: they weren’t in Buffalo. Buffalo might not have the glitz or glamour that other cities have, but what it does have is a deep-rooted love for music that is unmatched by many other places. When people go to shows in Buffalo, it’s because they want to see the band. In a lot of other places, people just go to the show simply because it’s a show.

JAMESON BUTLER

Arts Editor

Mohawk Place or the massive HSBC Arena, after every show the venue’s walls echo with the chants of fans who left it all on the dance floor. The crowd might not seem as though it would have much influence on the overall perception of the show, but it does. Concerts that have fans shoving to get close as they sing along with every verse make most artists step their games up. They want to match the crowd’s intensity. On the other hand, when the crowd is immobile and silent, bands tend to do the bare minimum. A stagnant audience sucks the fun out of a show and makes it feel like – God forbid – an actual job. But almost every band I have ever talked to has praised Buffalo for its fans and its dedication to music. Audiences here do their research about shows. Not only does the crowd know the headliner, but plenty of the people have at least listened to the openers and will party with them, too. Again, not something you find in a lot of cities. That’s why I urge everyone to find an upcoming show in Buffalo and check it out. Granted, there has been a serious drop off of big name concerts coming this semester. But that’s how it always is in Buffalo in the fall. By the time spring semester rolls around, there should be a list of dozens of great concerts. People can complain all they want about how Buffalo has nothing to do, but I guarantee that those people haven’t been to a concert in Buffalo. E-mail: jameson.butler@ubspectrum.com

Know your rock history I am proud to say I have amassed a very impressive CD collection. I have over 200 CDs, and if it weren’t for my tendency to sell them back to Record Theater for cash, I’d probably have close to 400. While a healthy number of those CDs are from the past decade, the vast majority of them were released over 20 years ago. As much as I enjoy current music, my favorite music tends to come from the late ’70s and early ’80s. That’s the stuff I play the most. There’s a good chance that your favorite artists now were inspired by musicians that were around 20 to 30 years ago. If you like Vampire Weekend, check out the Talking Heads and Paul Simon albums that inspired their music. If MGMT is your thing, check out some late ’60s psychedelic rock. The influence of these artists will be readily apparent. The same goes for all genres. Fans of hip-hop who like Kanye and Jay-Z would be wise to look to the past as well. Pick up an album by Public Enemy or the Beastie Boys; it will give you great perspective on how rap and hip-hop have evolved over the years. Current artists constantly sample songs from the past. Think, “Golddigger.” Music is disposable. In the iTunes era, we tend to chew artists up and spit them out. All you have to do to forget a song exists is delete it from your computer. As a result, we tend to focus on the artists of the moment. The artist who has a hit song now could be yesterday’s news the second no one downloads their second single, proving that pop music careers are very fragile. That is why it’s important to know your music history.

JOHN HUGAR

Asst. Arts Editor

“Don’t solely listen to new stuff.” Don’t solely listen to new stuff. Get acquainted with the music of the past as well. If you don’t, you’ll miss out on some great tunes. This is not to say that current music isn’t valid as well. Indeed, the person who ignores the music of the present day is just as flawed as the person who ignores the music of the past. People who swear by classic rock and punk would be wise to check out an album by The Gaslight Anthem or The Hold Steady, and people who swear by U2 should really give Arcade Fire a try. These rock acts are keeping the flame that was lit by their predecessors alive, and they are doing it expertly. At the same time, listeners should check out artists who take their genres to new places. People who are stuck on old school hip-hop should listen to acts like M.I.A. and Kid Cudi. These are original acts that expand the scope of their genres. Their music should not be missed. The key to being a good music listener is to have a solid knowledge of the past and the present. If you ignore any era of music because you have a prejudice toward that era, you are missing out on some good tunes. Never forget: music has no expiration date. E-mail: john.hugar@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

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Beach House Teen Dream This dream pop album includes haunting vocals from singer Victoria Legrand but also soothing beats that will have you swaying the night away. Beach House has a unique sound that is quite different from anything you will hear on FM radio. Tracks to check out: “Zebra,” “Walk in the Park”

Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty One-half of Outkast is enough to create a classic album. Big Boi was certainly on fire for this album, and his fast-hitting lyrics and solid production made his debut solo effort one of the better rap albums in recent memory.

according to David Sanchirico / Senior Managing Editor

Surfer Blood Astro Coast

The Black Keys Brothers

Arcade Fire The Suburbs

These surf rockers from Florida combined elements from early-Weezer, Vampire Weekend and others for their debut album. The result is an awesome guitar album that had surfer kids and others rocking through the summer.

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney continue to grow as musicians. Brothers contains the gritty guitar from the Keys’ previous albums, but, with help from producer Danger Mouse, it was also the duo’s most complete album to date.

Arcade Fire’s third album didn’t come close to Funeral, the band’s best work, but this 16-track effort starts on a high note and doesn’t slow down. The band has made three classics, setting quite a precedent for the indie gods heading into future albums.

Tracks to check out: “Swim,” “Anchorage”

Tracks to check out: “Shutterbug,” “Tangerine”

Tracks to check out: “Tighten Up,” “The Only One”

Tracks to check out: “Ready to Start,” “Suburban War”

wor l d n e w s

Scout in Mumbai attacks was DEA informant Federal officials acknowledged Saturday that David Coleman Headley, the U.S. businessman who confessed to being a terrorist scout in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was working as a Drug Enforcement Administration informant while training with terrorists in Pakistan. Federal officials, who spoke only on background because of the sensitivity of the Headley case, also said that they suspect a link between Headley and the al-Qaida figures whose activities have sparked recent terror threats against Europe. After he was arrested in a 2005

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domestic dispute in New York City, his wife told federal investigators about his long involvement with the terrorist group Lashkar-i-Taiba and his extensive training in its Pakistani camps. She also told them he had bragged about being a paid U.S. informant while undergoing terrorist training. Despite a federal inquiry into the tip, Headley spent the next four years doing terrorist reconnaissance around the world. Between 2006 and 2008, he underwent five spying missions in Mumbai, scouting targets for the attack by Lashkar that killed 166

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people, including six Americans. On Saturday, a federal official said Headley’s work as an informant appears to have lasted until sometime between 2003 and 2005. In March, Headley pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism in the Mumbai attacks and in a failed plot to take and behead hostages at a Danish newspaper. He is cooperating with authorities.

44 47

Across 1- Allow to enter 6- Join lips 10- Corrida cries 14- Come up 15- Calculus calculation 16- Former French colony of north-western Africa 17- Wore 18- Young deer 19- Slightly 20- Impetus 22- Make a contribution Down 1- Exclamations of relief 2- “Darn!” 3- Calf-length skirt 4- Having equality of measure 5- Term of holding 6- River in Zambia 7- Some nest eggs 8- Attach by stitches 9- Bloodsucking insect 10- Muscat native 11- Father of Leah and Rachel 12- Best of a group

24- Ashtabula’s lake 25- Bound 26- Heed 29- First name in scat 30- Actor Epps 31- Strong yellow-green 37- Miscellany 39- Classical beginning 40- Causing goose bumps 41- Laws 44- Raced 45- Do followers 46- Broom room 48- Black magic

52- Den 53- Protective envelope 54- Pallium 58- Gas burner or Sicilian volcano 59- Egyptian goddess of fertility 61- Spree 62- Minus 63- Lounge 64- France’s longest river 65- Very, in Versailles 66- Christmas 67- Computer key

13- Located 21- Chain piece 23- Old enough 25- Dole out 26- Deep affection 27- One-named super model 28- Franklin D.’s mother 29- Nicholas Gage book 32- Adversary 33- Act of retorting 34- Archer of myth 35- Green land 36- Depilatory brand 38Grows in Brooklyn

42- Gaily 43- Con 47- Legally responsible 48- Refine metal 49- Western 50- Wash lightly 51- Category 52- Cotton thread used for hosiery 54- Small mountain 55- Monogram ltr. 56- Barbarous person 57- Not e’en once 60- Former coin of France

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

au t op u nc h

f igh t i ng for f i r s t

THE

ON OFF

10 11 0

ISSUE

10 11

e v i l de a d : t h e m u sic a l

Clinton Hodnett /The Spectrum

BRING DA

funk From jam buddies to Battle of the Bands winners JAMESON BUTLER Arts Editor

There aren’t too many reasons why a place would ever want to be compared to New Jersey. Case in point: last week’s episode of South Park. But like New Jersey, Buffalo has a knack for producing great musicians. Case in point: Autopunch. As the defending champion of UB’s Battle of the Bands, Autopunch amalgamates music from several different decades to create an eclectic mix. The group consists of five friends who started as jam buddies and eventually unified to form a band. “We all played in different bands and then came together. We all always jammed together. The seeds got planted, in a way, freshman year,” said bassist Luke Hammill, a senior English major and the only band member who goes to UB. While Hammill grooves out on the bass, Dan Burkhardt provides the vocals, Tom Bowers and Dan Wallace provide the soulful guitar work and Dan Sheppard lays down the drums. Autopunch may have been an idea in 2007, but it wasn’t until Burkhardt joined in 2009 that the band started to become a reality. With influences ranging from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Pink Floyd to Rage Against the Machine, Autopunch is a hard band to group into one genre. “We sound like five people who are too stubborn to change how they play,” Wallace said. The band members may be too stubborn to change, but Autopunch uses this to its advantage when it comes to writing music. As the band members merge their sounds together, they produce Autopunch’s unique sound that is unlike anything else out there. “One of us will have a riff and from there it goes somewhere,” Sheppard said. “Sometimes we will come upon something when we are just making noise, and we will just stumble upon a riff.” While the band writes a lot of its own material, covers hold a soft spot in Autopunch’s heart. “We do a lot of covers,” Bowers said. “We have a couple that we rely on the most. Our Pink Floyd cover is pretty cool. We played ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ the other night at Nietzsche’s because Roger Waters was in town. But when we play ‘Killing in the Name,’ people lose their minds.” While Buffalo is full of venues • see AUTOPUNCH | page 7

THE SINGING DEAD ANAM AHMED Staff Writer

Cheerful, uplifting numbers and light-footed dance sequences are all staples of your everyday garden variety musical. However, Evil Dead is different. “It was definitely one of the least infuriating musicals I’ve seen in a while… might have been because of the zombies,” said Bryan Lynch, a 42-year-old accountant from Buffalo. It is deliberately campy, cheesy and outrageously gory. Evil Dead manipulates all the genre stereotypes to poke fun at theatrical predictability, and the outcome is a bloody good time. This is because it’s the only musical in the world with a splatter zone; waterproof clothing is advised. However, the word “splatter” is an understatement. Fake blood, a mong ot her objects, rains down on audience members in the first two rows with reckless abandon. Neat freaks and the squeamish alike are advised to sit as far back as possible if they want to avoid being hit in the face with an odd condom or two. The show, which is playing at the Alt Theatre through Halloween,

Bloody and funny; Evil Dead has it all.

is strictly R-rated. Children under the age of 15 are not permitted inside the theatre and 16 and 17 year olds have to be accompanied by a parent, so you’re guaranteed plenty

Courtesy of the Alt Theatre

of dismemberment and, oddly enough, tree semen. James Finch, a selfemployed 39-year-old Buffalo resident, showed up to the Thursday night screening wearing a white

T-shirt to broadcast his bravado. He insisted on having photos taken before and after the show to document his theatrical experience. “What better way to immerse yourself in a plot than to actually bathe in the actors’ blood,” Finch said. “I’m not just part of the action, I’m drenched in it. It’s how I know I’m not a wuss.” For those who are not quite as valiant as Finch but are still hoping to get in on the fun, there are ponchos available at the entrance. Take a cue from the more hesitant attendees and grab two so you’re wrapped from head to toe in plastic. As the protagonist Ash (Casey Denton) helpfully points out, Evil Dead is “an old tale” that has been told hundreds of times. “A boy and his friends go on a weeklong vacation in the woods,” Ash tells Anne (Jenny Kuliwicki). “Three friends turn into Candarian demons. One friend is killed by a forest of evil trees. Two demons are killed by their boyfriends respectively, while one stays in the cellar trying to kill everything in sight.” Pretty standard stuff, really. • see EVIL DEAD | page 10

m u sic a n d g a m e s

FORMING A BAND OF THE ROCK VARIETY

GH: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock

JOHN CONNELLY and NICOLAS PINO

allows players to create their own music and download music that other players create, leading to a potentially infinite set list of fake songs being played on fake instruments. Additionally, it allows users to use content from previous installments, letting players relive their fond memories of the older games.

Asst. Arts Editors

Why is your game going to rock 2010? Rock Band 3 :Sporting a

brand new keyboard peripheral, a digital six-string, and a more realistic drum set, Rock Band 3 seeks to finally claim the throne of rock. For this iteration, developer Harmonix has included a Rock Band Pro mode that will shut down even the greatest of wannabe guitar heroes. This is in addition to the 83 new in-game tracks and the massive (over 1,500 songs) library that are at the gamer’s disposal. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock:

While Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock may not be sporting the new, shiny keyboard that Rock Band 3 boasts, it does allow for any combination of instruments. Whether a group of friends wants to cover Bush as a quartet or Foo Fighters with four players on the drums, this is the game to do it. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock has

Which game has the exclusives? RB: Historically, both series have had

an eclectic setlist comprised of 93 songs – surely enough hits to satisfy any virtual band.

Which series is a safer bet? RB: Harmonix is a seasoned pro with

a history unlike any other in the industry. While Rock Band 2 didn’t shatter any expectations, Harmonix’s customer loyalty did, offering players the option to import all of their downloaded songs to Rock Band 3 for free. Moreover, for an additional 400 Microsoft Points, Rock Band players can play the entire first game’s setlist in the new version.

their share of exclusive licensing. In 2009, Harmonix was able to flex its creative muscles with the development of The Beatles: Rock Band. The company has proved time and time again that given the exclusive rights to a band, it can do the music justice, unlike other developers. Rock Band 3 will have its share of exclusive tracks, though the track list at this point feels like it is the tried and true songs repackaged on a new disc. GH: Guitar Hero has had its band exclusives in the past, such as Aerosmith and Van Halen, but much like • see GAMES | page 11

Courtesy of Fighting for First

cash FIGHTING FOR Buffalo band tries to make it on low budget VANESSA FRITH Asst. Arts Editor

While college might be the perfect atmosphere for learning and drinking, it is not the best place to create a band. Still, the UB students of Fighting for First make it work. Originated in 2007, the pop rock outfit now features Matt Schultz on vocals and bass and Brian MacLeod and David Miller Jr. on guitar. “We play everything, really. We usually say All Time Low or Blink 182, those kinds of things, but really everything,” Macleod said. “One of the biggest criticisms of our band is that we don’t really have a single sound. It changes with each song we make because it just happens to be what band we’re listening to that day. Really anything from classical to hardcore metal.” The band tries to play shows every six weeks, making it tough to build up a lot of income. According to MacLeod, the band’s money intake ranges between $10 and $400 per show. The band takes that money and mostly spends it on merchandise and equipment maintenance. Though live shows don’t occur frequently, Fighting for First doesn’t find it difficult to secure Buffalo venues to play in. “We’ve been playing at Club Infinity a lot, Town Ballroom once in a while, and Xtreme Wheels,” MacLeod said. “A lot of local shows are at Xtreme Wheels just because it’s smaller and cheaper I guess.” With ticket prices ranging from $10-$12, Fighting for First shows are not very expensive to attend. “We try to get out to support the local shows if we can. If nothing else, it’s just nice to be out there and talking to people, trying to help build that fan base,” MacLeod said. Merchandise, ranging from T-shirts to CDs, is a main staple in band income. However, both items also require funds to create. “Usually you have to find someone who does screen-printing [for T-shirts],” MacLeod said. “It depends on how many colors you’re getting, what kind of design you’re doing. We usually pay about $200 for 25 or 50 shirts. Those usually go pretty quick so you make your money back and then some.” Recording is the most expensive task. According to MacLeod, it costs $100 to record a song. Add that to the eight hours it takes to record a song, and the band ends up investing a lot of time and money recording. “I think we were going to try and do eight songs, which would have been $1,300… but we just finished • see FIGHTING FOR FIRST | page 10

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The semester may be half over, but there’s still a lot of albums to look forward to before Christmas time. We’ve put together a list of the albums that look to be among the best of late fall and early winter. Listeners who are strapped for cash may want to ask Santa to put these under their Christmas tree.

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Now that she’s out of high school, it’ll be interesting to see what Taylor Swift is going to write about. She’ll probably go from songs about hot guys to songs about hot men. Still, as long as she keeps writing great hooks, it’ll be worth checking out.

November 9

Dat Kid from Cleveland is back with his second studio album, which also happens to be the second installment of his Man on the Moon trilogy. Cudi transcends genres; crossing over from hip-hop to progressive to R&B, Cudi offers a little bit of something for everyone. The handful of new songs Cudi performed at UB sound amazing and only titillated fans with what’s to come.

Daft Punk

Tron: Legacy Soundtrack December 7

If you haven’t heard about this yet, you have to be living underneath a rock. Electronic music’s most talented duo is doing the film score to one of this year’s nerdiest movies. And it is rumored that Daft Punk will be doing a world tour for the album. This is every fanboy’s wet dream.

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Everyone knows that the Black Parade is dead. It has been four years since the rock giants released an album and if the promotion is any indication, it will be worth the wait. From what has been released, this album sounds like My Chemical Romance meets Queen. And if you are one of the millions of people that write My Chemical Romance off because they are an “emo” band, you clearly haven’t been listening to My Chem.

g Albums Kanye West

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy November 23

This album has been delayed for quite a bit (in fact, we wrote about in our summer albums preview when it was still called Good A** Job), but it will probably be worth the hype. Every single released so far has been amazing, and who knows what else Kanye might have up his sleeve?

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evil dead | Subtle touches for longtime fans continued from page 7

Drawing heavily from the Evil Dead trilogy, Evil Dead: The Musical is designed to draw in the fans of the original. However, collaborators George Reinblatt (Book and Lyrics), Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond and Melissa Morris have come up with a production so zany that familiarity with the cult classics is not a requirement for enjoying it. “I thought it was awesome,” said

Ryan Awayda, a sophomore music education major at Buffalo State College. “I never watched the movies, but that just made every on-stage death a delightful surprise.” Prior knowledge does, however, help you appreciate some of the subtler touches. The inclusion of Bruce Campbell’s novel “Make Love: The Bruce Campbell Way” as a prop is the finest example. Actor Casey Denton does a great

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job of merging his own machismo with Bruce Campbell’s iconic swagger, while actress Jenny Zulwicki flawlessly transitions from ditzy Shelly to determined Anne. Maria Droz’s Cheryl is overtly sexual (and, at times, uncomfortably so), but she succeeds in being one of the most memorable characters on stage. The songs are nonsensical (“Cabin in the Woods”) and annoying (“Join Us”), but they are also somewhat catchy (“Look Who’s Evil Now!”). Plus, the demons are not afraid to come off stage to give a few lucky recipients a lap dance. Still, no song sums up the evening better than Ash and Scott’s bro-love-tinged duet. After watching Evil Dead: The Musical, audience members will be left thinking only one thing: “What did I just witness?”

E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

autopunch | Broadway Joe’s, Oct 30 continued from page 7

both big and small, Autopunch prefers the venue that has given the band several opportunities to play its music for the people. “Nietzsche’s is the best so far,” Wallace said. “We [also] played this battle of the bands at the Tralf… playing the Tralf was cool.” Autopunch didn’t just perform at the battle of the bands at the Tralf; the band won it. That is two battle of the bands wins in a few months time. Autopunch has recorded six songs altogether. Fan favorites “Go Funk Yourself” and “Time for Livin’” are available for download on the band’s website, www.autopunch.org. However, if you go to an Autopunch show, you can get a free copy of the band’s CD. For anyone that is interested in going to see Autopunch but can’t get downtown, don’t fret; Autopunch is coming to you.

On Oct. 30, Autopunch will be performing at Broadway Joe’s at 3051 Main St. right near South Campus. Autopunch chose Broadway Joe’s because it is walking distance from South Campus, allowing easy access for all students. They are hoping that the crowd will be bigger than usual. “You can get tickets at the door, but they are cheaper through us. It’s $7 if you buy them through us and $10 at the door,” Bowers said. “Hopefully we have a big crowd there. I don’t think we should have trouble being able to get students there.” And if students go to Broadway Joe’s that night, they’ll see a band that possesses the potential to become the next big thing to come out of Buffalo. Full disclosure: Luke Hammill is a Managing Editor at The Spectrum. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

fighting for first | Members hold down other jobs continued from page 7

our EP kind of thing so we were going to try making a full length, but we decided to do it ourselves,” MacLeod said. “With mics and recording stuff we figured it would be about $800 all together, plus packaging for jewel cases and any artwork we need.” As shows and merchandise bring in little profit, which is then funneled into further recordings, the

band members must hold down other jobs while in school. “One guy works at Target, another guy is washing cars at a dealership. I work as a janitor at a high school. So we all do what we can to get by at the moment,” MacLeod said. With homework, work and classes, it can be difficult to schedule practice times, show times, and studio time. The guys practice only once a week because of homework

and work commitments. Although college presents its own unique obstacles for student bands, Fighting for First has managed a way to balance studies, finances and music. MacLeod hopes to continue with the band after college ends, at a time when they will have more resources to devote to the project.

E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

perform outside bagginz | Will of bookstore continued from page 5

who is marking the Oregon Trail for us. Hopefully we can follow that.” As far as the future is concerned, Bagginz believes he has found his true passion in rap. “It’s something I can definitely see myself doing for the rest of my life. I feel like that can only happen with the right support around me, and I’m really appreciative of this exposure and opportunity,” Bagginz said. “Schools rally around you, maybe kids bring the music home, maybe they hate it, but at least it’s out there and it has a chance.” Balancing rap and schoolwork has provided Bagginz with some challenges. “To properly get yourself out there, getting the proper studio time and promotions is very tough. Financially, it’s tough. There are only so many hours in a day,” Bagginz said. “School is very important to me, but when I have my free time, I’m always in the studio trying to put things down and get my music out there.” As of now, all of Bagginz’s music is available for free. “I can’t expect anyone to buy my album [It’s Only A Matter of Time]… I’m going to continue to put out free music in order to increase my fan base. From that, hopefully I can someday put something out that people can buy,” Bagginz said. “For now, it’s free music. Check it out; bump it at your party, whatever you want. That’s what I’m all about right now.” For those who would like to test their own talent in the musical world, Bagginz offers some advice. “In the beginning of anything you do, you’ll always have people that doubt you… Lord knows I did. If you constantly keep telling yourself that you got this, keep a positive attitude and stay on your grind, the sky is

“School is very important to me, but when I have my free time, I’m always in the studio...” - Bagginz the limit,” Bagginz said. “I stuck to believing in me; that’s what you [have to] do. The same people that were doubting me a year ago are the same kids lining up to be front row at my shows.” Trevor Bagginz will be in action this Friday during the Homecoming Carnival in Parcel Lot B (the University Bookstore parking lot) at 7 p.m. Food, games and rides will be offered until 9 p.m., and then activities continue at 9:30 p.m. with a bonfire and fireworks. To hear Trevor Bagginz’s music before the show, visit his YouTube channel at youtube.com/tbagzmusic or his Facebook fan page at “Bagginz Music.”

E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

si ngi ng c h a l l e nge

Lady Gaga challenged to $1 million singing competition ALLISON KREMBERG Staff Writer

Lady Gaga, it’s wartime. Grab your armor and wield that auto-tuned microphone for an unexpected battle in the pop music world; a newcomer is ready to duel. Multi-platinum recording artist Lady Gaga has been challenged to a $1 million singing battle against Los Angeles-based singer Alisa Apps. Apps is unsigned yet has received 1.3 million views on YouTube for her song “How Do I Make Right,” uploaded in July 2008. She is determined to show anyone and everyone what she’s got hidden up her sleeve.

to Apps, the reasoning behind this contest is not to generate stardom through a conniving outlet but to prove her authenticity as an artist.

she’s not Gaga’s biggest fan. However, Apps sympathetically views Gaga as a marionette being played with by the music industry.

“I feel sorry for Lady Gaga – she’s just a plastic doll generated by the music money marketing machine,” Apps declared in a press release. “This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer – plastic or real.”

“I don’t hate her. I just think that Lady Gaga doesn’t know who Lady Gaga is, and for that matter, doesn’t know who Stephani [Germanotta, Gaga’s given name] is anymore,” Apps stated in an exclusive interview with Celebuzz.com. “I’d like to see music out there that has more true person, more of the true heart.”

Apps’ recent statements about Lady Gaga as a musician have really swayed the masses to believe that

Gaga has yet to respond to t he request. Only time will tell the fate of this potential battle.

According to MTV, the competition would include each singer performing a variety of songs and having a team of judges settle on an ultimate winner. It would occur either at Madison Square Garden in New York or the O2 Arena in London. Upon hearing the news, Gaga’s fan base was outraged due to the explicitly boorish statements made toward the fame monster. According

E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com

Spectrum File Photo

Although still unconfirmed, there may be a singing duel featuring Lady Gaga.

TOP 5 ALBUMS of 2010

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according to Jameson Butler / Arts Editor

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Foxy Shazam Foxy Shazam Foxy Shazam struck gold with their third studio album. While this album is not nearly as heavy as their first records, Eric Nally and crew provide one of the best indie albums of the year. Tracks to check out: “Oh Lord,” “Killin’ It”

Sleigh Bells Treats Most people haven’t heard of Sleigh Bells, and it is a crying shame. This electronic duo provides some of the most danceable music of the year. Even the most stagnant person can’t help but groove out to this up and coming dance-punk group.

Plastic Beach Despite a disappointing opener (I’m looking at you Snoop Dogg), Gorillaz provide one of the best electronic albums in a long time. Plus, having Bobby Womack, Lou Reed, and De La Soul as guest vocalists is always a good call.

Tracks to check out: “Rill Rill,” “Crown on the Ground

Tracks to check out: “Some Kind of Nature,” “Superfast Jellyfish”

Motion City Soundtrack

Gorillaz

My Dinosaur Life Motion City Soundtrack produced the best album of their career and set the bar high early in 2010 for all pop punk albums. Despite the nerdy references and dorky jokes that are abundant on the album, MCS proved that they have plenty left in the tank. Tracks to check out: “Pulp Fiction,” “@!#?@!”

The Gaslight Anthem

American Slang The Gaslight Anthem produced their third studio album in four years and continues to prove that punk isn’t dead. American Slang shows how TGA has matured over the past four years and how they will be around for years to come. Tracks to check out: “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” “The Spirit of Jazz”

games | Guitar Hero is cheaper continued from page 7

Rock Band 3, this installment simply packs a solid selection of music that goes perfectly with the game. Any concertgoer knows it’s all about the setlist. What is your game bringing to the stage? RB: Rammstein, Smash Mouth and

The B-52’s are just a sample of the diverse bands available to please a variety of tastes in the newest Rock Band. Just in time for his birthday, John Lennon’s hit “Imagine” will dominate drunken parties for the next few months. Finally, staples of the music industry, including Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett and Stone Temple Pilots, bring their talent to the newest addition to the Rock Band family. GH: The humble setlist of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock boasts the likes of R.E.M., Queen, Muse and KISS. If that seems too pedestrian, there are seven songs by Rush as well. Whether a band is trying to emulate Alice Cooper with “No More Mr. Nice Guy” in the early ’70s or Fall Out Boy with “Dance, Dance” in 2005, it will find what it’s looking for in this game. Which game has the better instruments? RB: This is a hands-down win for

the Harmonix team. Adding a twooctave keyboard, a 17-fret guitar and

a cymbal expansion, there may be some confusion between a garage band and its electronic counterpart. In Rock Band Pro mode, musicians will finally shine through as notes will stop being their distinguishable colors and become the actual notes played by the artists themselves. GH: This is one area where Rock Band 3 is the undisputed winner. It innovated where Guitar Hero did not, and Rock Band 3 takes this category with ease.

more casual mode than players may be used to, and it may help with high alcohol, low attention-paying situations. The new mode is ca lled “Quest Mode.” It is a career/story mode narrated by the legendary Gene Simmons; it is a nice new take on the stale career mode of past installments, where the player is challenged to save the Demigod of Rock.

What game modes does your game have?

RB: The multitude of features, the

RB: Rock Band Pro takes center

stage, but those who are unwilling to take on the role of an actual musician can play it safe by using their old Rock Band paraphernalia. Additionally, “Party Mode” serves the purpose described by its name, serving as a virtual jukebox by mixing up songs and allowing players to jump in and out at any time. “Career Mode” is back again, this time with even more challenges and mystery setlists, perfect for the times that players just want to be alone with the music. GH: Guitar Hero has kept its standard game modes from previous installments, and it still has “Party Play” mode. Similar to Rock Band’s new mode, this allows players to jump in and out of playing without the risk of failing songs. It is a much

Music Playing Out on Lanes All Night!

Why shouldn’t you buy the competition? plethora of instruments, and the 1,500-plus song library Rock Band 3 possesses are more than enough reason. Why look anywhere else than the king of music game development? This is essentially the perfect party activity in a box. For everything mentioned above – the keyboard, guitar, mic, and drums –a music fanatic will have to shell out $360. That’s more expensive than this generation’s current consoles, but it is certainly worth it. GH: This game is still exactly what fans of the series have come to want and expect. It provides countless hours of musical fun and doesn’t cost $360 like Rock Band 3 does.

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The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

! e s i t r dve m

A all The Spencgtarut C

tisi Adver 45 - 2152 6 (716)

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Venues to avoid and venues to enjoy JAMES TWIGG | Senior Arts Editor

From its underground hardcore scene that produced bands like Every Time I Die and It Dies Today to the city’s more mainstream pop and rock clique that gave the world The Goo Goo Dolls, Buffalo has always been a thriving musical hot spot. As it is with any city that continues to pump out band after band, Buffalo has its fair share of local venues waiting to be filled with anxious fans.

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Knowing which venue caters to your musical taste is only half the battle: atmosphere, sound quality and even the attraction of the crowd all play vital roles in determining the best and worst of Buffalo’s concert venues.

Mohawk Place

Town Ballroom

Xtreme Wheels

Club Infinity

Located in the heart of Buffalo’s downtown district, Mohawk Place is among the most intimate venues in Buffalo. Within the venue’s confines lies an atmosphere that, while dark and cramped, is also warm and welcoming. An assortment of musical themed pictures and beer advertisements decorate the narrow building’s walls. In fact, the only items more abundant than Pabst Blue Ribbon memorabilia are the band stickers from previous shows that line the walls. The stage barely stands more than a foot off the floor and, when the band goes on, attendees find themselves in closer quarters than Siamese twins. Claustrophobics, however, may want to avoid this one. The venue showcases not only the best local bands Buffalo has to offer but an astounding list of unknown up-and-comers from across the country. This makes Mohawk Place the best venue in town to get acquainted with some new material and possibly make some friends in the process.

For those scouring the Buffalo area for bigger-name acts, the Town Ballroom in the theater district is just what you’re looking for. From Paramore to the infamous GWAR, Town Ballroom has hosted some of the biggest names in music today. The Town Ballroom attracts big names, but also brings in a diverse array of acts. The venue features death metal, pop, punk rock, hip-hop and even the occasional comedy show. Whether you are getting down and dirty on the ground floor in the mosh pit or merely watching from the safety of the risers, the multilayered semicircle that expands out in front of the stage provides a great time for the attendance. In terms of sound quality, Town Ballroom is one of the best around. The circular build to the room helps to distribute the sound evenly across the crowd, ensuring that wherever you’re standing you get the best experience possible. With its big name acts, wide variety of genres and innovative design, Town Ballroom is one of the best all-around venues for any music fan.

Teenagers, hair spray and neon clothes are all in abundance at Buffalo’s Extreme Wheels skate park and concert venue. Though the open warehouse environment of the skate park helps eliminate all feelings of overcrowding, this tends to have a negative effect on the music, as the sound becomes dispersed throughout the entire venue. Located at 356 Hertel Ave. in Buffalo, the place is essentially a warehouse with a stage thrown in at one end. The music tends to fade out toward the back of the crowd, which can frustrate attendees that are there to see the show and not to skate. To be fair, though, the place is a skate park. Compound the awful sound quality and a no swearing rule, and mix in a concert line-up featuring almost exclusively hardcore style bands, and it is clear that Xtreme Wheels is a concert venue for those yet to see their 21st birthday.

Located at 8166 Main St. in Clarence NY, Club Infinity is one the region’s best-kept secrets. While the venue may not hold shows as often as some of the others, it rarely disappoints. On the main floor of Club Infinity, audiences can mosh, jump and dance with delight. Around the floor, however, is a small wall about waist high used to contain the rambunctious crowd, much like a fence does for cattle. Lying in wait just over the wall are several tables, where the more laid back attendee can watch the show in relative peace. Bands that will be playing at Infinity in the near future include the Spill Canvas and Cannibal Corpse. Additionally, the Buffalo Music Awards will be hosted at Infinity in November. Though Infinity is a bit tougher to get to than some of the other venues, it is well worth the trip.

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wor l d n e w s

U.S. deal with European oil firms cripples Iran Air A recent agreement between four of Europe’s largest oil companies and the United States aimed at further isolating Iran is already having an impact. Iran Air, the Islamic Republic’s national carrier, has been unable to refuel its planes in most of Europe. The fueling problem follows a new push by the Obama administration to move beyond the strict sanctions it imposed to a broader attempt to discourage international businesses from dealing with Iran. It also illustrates a shift away from an earlier U.S. policy of reaching out to the Iranian people and trying to target mostly state organizations central to Iran’s nuclear program. Officials now say that the increased pressure is hurting ordinary Iranians, but they also say that Iranians should blame their leaders for the Islamic Republic’s increasing isolation. Under the agreement announced in Washington on Sept. 30, Total (France), Statoil (Norway), Eni (Italy), and Royal Dutch Shell (United Kingdom and the Netherlands) pledged to end their investments in Iran and avoid new activity in the country’s energy sector. In turn, U.S. officials said, the companies would be protected from possible U.S. penalties for doing business with Iran. In recent weeks, several major oil firms, including British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell and Q8, have abruptly canceled jet fuel delivery contracts with Iran Air. As a result of the canceled jet fuel contracts, all Iran Air planes departing from cities such as Amsterdam, London and Stockholm are now forced to make lengthy fuel stops either at an airport in Germany or one in Austria, where Total and OMV (Austria) are still providing the 66-year-old airline with jet fuel until their contracts run out, which happens possibly as soon as next month. At that point, Iran Air could be forced to cancel or severely reduce flights.

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

TOP 5 ALBUMS of 2010

3OH!3 Streets of Gold Since finding the national spotlight with their previous release, Want, many worried that 3OH!3 would lose sight of their unique musical touch. Thankfully, they flew true and produced an album that is 3OH!3 through and through. Tracks to check out: “I Can Do Anything,” “I Know How to Say”

according to James Twigg / Senior Arts Editor

Circa Survive Blue Sky Noise With their latest release, Circa Survive showed off a vocal and instrumental range unheard on previous albums. Because of this, Blue Sky Noise is not only one of the band’s best albums but one of the best to come out all year. Tracks to check out: “Get Out,” “Imaginary Enemy”

Stone Temple Pilots Stone Temple Pilots After taking a nineyear break, STP returned stronger than ever. Even if frontman Scott Weiland still has some substance abuse problems, he can crank out great tunes with the best of them. Tracks to check out: “Between the Lines,” “First Kiss On Mars”

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Mojo On his first album with Heartbreakers since 2002, Petty proved that he can still rock as hard as ever. By adding a jam band style to its sound, the band was able to expand its repertoire and create one of its best albums ever.

Motion City Soundtrack My Dinosaur Life With their fourth studio album release, the boys of Motion City Soundtrack have proven that their talent knows no bounds, and they have no plans of going extinct any time soon. Tracks to check out: “Her Words Destroyed my Planet,” “ A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)”

Tracks to check out: “Stay Lucky,” “Bring it On”

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Tracks to check out: “Find My Way Back,” “On a Saturday”

Tracks to check out: “Tragedy,” “I Don’t Wanna Know”

LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening James Murphy’s ability to combine smarmy hipster humor with genuine emotion is second to none. That, combined with his ability to craft wicked dance beats, is what makes This Is Happening an amazing album from start to finish.

Arcade Fire The Suburbs With their third album, Arcade Fire have cemented themselves as the premier band in indie rock. This album is 16 tracks of beautiful, meaningful music from a band that will be making great albums for decades to come.

Tracks to check out: “I Can Change,” “Home”

Tracks to check out: “Modern Man,” “We Used to Wait”

Motion City Soundtrack My Dinosaur Life Darker than their previous releases, Motion City Soundtrack’s latest effort manages to retain their fast paced lyrics and pop punk feel. Throw in some mildly amazing album art, and out pops My Dinosaur Life. Tracks to check out: “The Weakends,” “Pulp Fiction”

Jimmy Eat World Invented Keeping their smooth sound and penchant for orchestral backgrounds, Jimmy Eat World takes a more electric route on Invented. With memorable guitar riffs and even better lyrics, this album balances between Chase this Light and Futures.

AM Taxi We Don’t Stand a Chance If you want an album that makes you feel and has lyrics that seem real, this is it. Tracks to check out: “Dead Street,” “Shake, Rattle and Stall”

Tracks to check out: “Movielike,” “Coffee and Cigarettes”

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Four Year Strong Enemy of the World The pop punkers of Four Year Strong dropped Enemy of the World in March and showed that they still know what makes them great but aren’t afraid to take their music down different roads.

...according to Vanessa Frith / Asst. Arts Editor

The Gaslight Anthem American Slang With lyrics that have a personal feel and a tarnished time travel vibe, Brian Fallon and crew have created an album perfect for dark, rainy nights.

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Tracks to check out: “My Last Semester,” “Logan Circle”

Peter Wolf Midnight Souvenirs This album didn’t get a great deal of hype, but it proved that the former J. Geils front man hasn’t lost any of his songwriting skills. Truly, this is a must for all classic rock fans.

Tracks to check out: “I Should’ve Known It,” “Don’t Pull Me Over”

Tracks to check out: “A More Perfect Union,” “Theme from “Cheers””

The Wonder Years The Upsides This Philadelphia based pop punk band caught everyone off guard with their stuck-in-your-head lyrics and driving instrumentals. In a genre where originality isn’t a priority, The Wonder Years have managed to craft an album that stands out like a black sheep in a snowstorm.

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...according to John Hugar / Asst. Arts Editor

Titus Andronicus The Monitor These small town New Jersey punk rockers finally gained recognition with their second fulllength album. Pat Stickle’s rusty voice, combined with Civil War inspired lyrics and a healthy dose of cynicism, creates an amazing album. The album could make you spiral into a deep depression, but it is great nonetheless.

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The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

football | Home for the first time in over a month next week continued from page 16

“I’d like to know that myself,” Quinn said. “Very disappointing production today [from Jerry]. We know Jerry has the physical capabilities, but it’s more about being locked in from a mental standpoint. We had some three-and-outs and we couldn’t get any rhythm with him.” After the game, Quinn wouldn’t say who would start for the Bulls at quarterback next week but made it clear that the best player will play. Davis went 7-for-23 in the game for 101 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Zordich finished 2-for-3 for 19 yards. Defensively, the Bulls played better than the final score indicates. In the first half, Buffalo forced two Huskies turnovers and scored half the team’s points. With the offense struggling early

on in the game, freshman linebacker Khalil Mack hit Harnish, knocking the ball out of his hand. Junior defensive end Gordon DuBois intercepted the ball in the air and took it 27 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at seven. “We had a stunt on and I had contain,” DuBois said. “I saw him stepping up and [Mack] hit him and the ball came right to me. I just started running. It was pretty cool.” With the score tied after the Buffalo touchdown, Harnish put together an impressive drive to go deep into Bulls territory. From the Buffalo 17-yard line, Harnish threw a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by senior safety Domonic Cook. The Bulls had the momentum, but it would quickly shift back to the Huskies. On the second play of the ensuing drive, freshman running

back Branden Oliver fumbled at the Buffalo 32-yard line to give the Huskies the ball back. Northern Illinois didn’t let the opportunity go to waste, as they needed only four plays to score. Harnish found Huskies wide receiver Willie Clark for a 25-yard touchdown. Davis threw an interception on the very next drive, and Northern Illinois running back Chad Spann scored what would become the game-winning touchdown, extending the Huskies lead to 21-7. The Huskies scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to seal the Bulls’ fate in the game. Senior safety Davonte Shannon, who finished with a team-high 14 tackles in the game, expected a better outcome in the game but realizes the team has to be able to

respond quickly. “We were in the driver’s seat by being undefeated in MAC play,” Shannon said. “We could have played with them. We have the talent. It hurts, but we have to get past this game and get ready for next week.” Sophomore running back Jeffvon Gill had the best day for the Bulls backfield. He finished with 45 yards on the game, which was good for an average of 6.4 yards per rush. Harnish threw for 160 yards through the air and rushed for 88 on the ground. He threw two touchdowns and rushed for another. The Bulls return home for the first time in over a month this Saturday to battle the Temple Owls (5-2, 2-1 MAC). Kickoff is scheduled for noon at UB Stadium. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

volleyball | Not sharp enough to earn a win continued from page 16

The second set was much tighter before Western Michigan again opened up a 9-6 lead after a 4-1 run. After a timeout, the Bulls came out strong, taking a 13-12 lead and the momentum for the time being. Buffalo’s lead did not last for long, though, as Western Michigan took control of the set with an 8-4 run and gained a 20-16 lead. The Broncos’ run continued, and they ended the second set with a 25-18 victory. WMU had 13 kills as a team in the second set with a hitting percentage of .281, whereas Buffalo had 12 kills but only a .147 hitting percentage.

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Senior outside hitter Allyson Doyle led the way for Western Michigan with five kills in the set while hitting for an outstanding .556 percentage. Western Michigan dominated the third set, and the Bulls didn’t come within six points the rest of the way. WMU took the set, 25-16. The Bulls were led by senior middle blocker Kayla Govier, who had eight kills and hit for a team high .389 percentage. Junior blocker Abby Niekamp and senior blocker Kristin Bignell contributed seven and six kills, respectively. Buffalo’s offense was led by freshman setter Dani Reinhart, who had 19 assists, while senior setter Lindsey Schlegel tallied 11 assists. Defensively, junior defensive specialist Heather Pyle led the Bulls with 16 digs. Despite the loss, the volleyball team was encouraged by its effort on Saturday evening against another top team in the MAC – Northern Illinois. The Bulls’ execution, however, was not sharp enough to earn the win at Victor E. Court, as they dropped the match 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-19). “The fight tonight, combined with a little better execution, will

get the job done against a number of good teams.” Kress said. “We have a couple of players who are sick. We just need to get healthy and get back out there.” Veteran play from seniors Schlegel, Bignell, and Marisa Hornbaker was not enough to push the Bulls past the Huskies. The Huskies hit for a better average than the Bulls, .254 to .164. But the Bulls were able to keep it close throughout the match despite being swept. The Huskies were led by freshman standout Lauren Wicinski, who finished the night with 21 kills on 42 attempts, hitting .357 and contributing 10 digs. Hornbaker had a strong performance with only one error on 28 swings and notched the lone service ace for the Bulls. Schlegel finished the night with a team-high 24 assists, while freshman Dana Musil recorded six digs and eight kills on 24 total swings. Buffalo returns home to face Eastern Michigan on Friday at 7 p.m. at Alumni Arena. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

‘They stepped up swimming | and swam really well’ continued from page 16

of the night for the men was the 400-yard freestyle relay. Not only was it the last race of the night, but it decided the outcome of the entire event. “That was fun. It came down to whoever won that relay, would win the meet,” Bashor said. “We thought we had a really strong chance at winning it. They stepped up and swam really well. These are the fun ones to be a part of.” The men also swept the entire diving competition behind strong

performances from junior Colin Patrican and senior Kenny Rhoades. Not all was lost for the women despite the loss. Sophomore Caroline Simmons won two sprint freestyle races and also anchored the winning 400-yard relay team, which also included sophomore Karly Moore and seniors Jessie Koltz and Jordan Deren. Next up is another dual meet for the Bulls. They visit Colgate on Saturday. E-mail: sports@ubspectrum.com

for Robinson rahn | Waiting to reveal himself continued from page 16

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“jail cell.” Smoking weed might be the only thing preventing him from being successful on the football field. However, being in prison might be the best thing for his lungs. They normally don’t let prisoners do drugs. Key word: normally. Carter recently was placed in solitary confinement for having an illegal MP3 player, forcing him to spend 23 hours of the day in his cell. Or is that just a cover-up so that he can practice and play with the Wolverines on Saturdays?

Maybe Wayne cleaned up his act and found a name for himself in football. But that name isn’t Dwayne Carter. I’m just waiting for the day when the ESPN bottom line has breaking news stating that Robinson has finally revealed himself as the superstar rapper that I think he is. I know I’m probably wrong; it wouldn’t be the first time. But I just want people to know that they heard it here first. E-mail: chris.rahn@ubspectrum.com

The Spectrum Monday, October 18 , 2010

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fo o t b a l l > > bu l l s at nor t h e r n i l l i noi s

Time for a change Offensive struggles continue to plague team MATTHEW PARRINO Senior Sports Editor

The football team had an extra week to prepare for its week six opponent, but it clearly wasn’t enough time for an offense that continues to struggle. Furthermore, the Jerry Davis era may have come to an end in DeKalb, Ill. on Saturday night. In spite of an outstanding effort by their defense, the Bulls (2-4, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) were clobbered by Northern Illinois (5-2, 3-0 MAC), 45-14. Coming into the game, Huskies quarterback Chandler Harnish had thrown only one interception all season, and the Bulls forced the twotime MAC West Player of the Week to throw two on Saturday. It was the offense, though, that ultimately doomed the Bulls.

CHRIS RAHN

Asst. Sports Editor

The Carter XVI

14 45

Buffalo Bulls

NIU Huskies

Bulls head coach Jeff Quinn was disappointed after the game, to say the least. “[I’m] irritated and aggravated as a coach,” Quinn said. “You work too hard, you expect your kids to perform to their very best and we weren’t able to do that today. We need a lot of practice. That’s what we need.” Sophomore quarterback Jerry Davis had arguably his worst performance of the season and was replaced in the fourth quarter by true freshman Alex Zordich. Aside from an 81-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Marcus Rivers right before halftime, Davis was inaccurate throughout the game and didn’t seem to be on the same page with his receivers. When asked after the game what went wrong with Davis, Quinn seemed to still be looking for the answer. • see FOOTBALL | page 14

NIU Media Services/Scott Walstrom

Marcus Rivers (2) had three catches for 94 yards and a touchdown Saturday, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulls lost 45-17 to Northern Illinois.

s w i m m i ng a n d di v i ng

vol l e y b a l l

Volleyball struggles on road trip ANDREW BELLAFLORES and ZACH FILZEN

Staff Reporter and Staff Writer

Satsuki Aoi /The Spectrum

The swimming and diving team traveled to Pittsburgh this weekend. The men’s team came out on top while the women’s team struggled.

Swim team splits first dual meet STEVE CARR Staff Writer

The swimming and diving teams looked to back up a strong performance at home with a quality showing in Pittsburgh on Friday night. The men’s team (1-0) scored a victory, 127-116, while the women (0-1) came up short in a 165.5-77.5 decision. Head coach Andy Bashor made it clear that both of his teams fought hard throughout the meet. “It’s about winning, but also about competing and getting in

some really quality races early in the season, which I really thought we did,” Bashor said. The Bulls went up against tough competition, as the Pittsburgh men (0-1) and women (1-0) both compete in the Big East Conference. “Pitt is a Big East team, and they are usually top three in the conference year after year,” Bashor said. “To come in and be able to compete with them, and on the men’s side be able to beat them…I think it’s a testament to how far we’ve come in a short period of time.” One of the most crucial races • see SWIMMING | page 14

The volleyball team’s momentum built by last week’s win against Ball State came crashing down over the weekend. The Bulls (14-10, 2-6 Mid-American Conference) were swept by both Western Michigan (14-6, 5-2 MAC) and Northern Illinois (21-2, 7-1). “This was definitely the toughest road trip, so we talked a lot about the preparation for this,” said head coach Todd Kress. “Not only is this the toughest road trip travel wise, but it is the toughest road trip with the caliber of teams we played.” On Friday night, the Broncos disposed of the Bulls, 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-16), thanks to an efficient start. Western Michigan finished the match with a .293 hitting percentage compared to Buffalo’s .103. “We didn’t play with a whole lot of energy [Friday] night,” Kress said. Western Michigan had a very balanced attack, as five players recorded at least six kills. The Broncos were led by outside hitter Taylor Richard, who recorded nine kills on the night

Spectrum File Photo

Senior blocker Kayla Govier (17) and the volleyball team experienced tough times on the road this weekend, as they were swept by both Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.

and a hitting percentage of .381. The Broncos ended the first set on a 9-1 run, topping the Bulls by a score of 25-15. Western Michigan had four kills, each from Richard and outside hitter Ali Gossen, while Broncos setter Sam Viox contributed 13 assists in the first set.

Denard Robinson is one of the most exciting college football players to come along in the past decade. But is that actually Dwayne Carter (Lil’ Wayne) wearing that No.16 Michigan jersey every weekend? It’s hard to tell. We all know that Carter is in jail until November on weapons charges, but I’m convinced that he is playing football for the Wolverines this season, because celebrities don’t actually go to jail. And this theory I have goes much deeper than the similar dreadlock look that both of these men sport. If you have listened to Carter’s music, you’ve noticed that the only thing he raps about more than drugs and his female companions is sports. Lines such as “Tony Romo / No homo” and “Tiger Woods on these holes, trying to birdie these balls” are examples of Carter’s love for sports. Carter has had a featured blog on ESPN.com and has been a guest on multiple shows on ESPN, such as Around the Horn. But in his recent single, titled “Right Above It,” Carter makes a reference to the wildcat offense that I just can’t get out of my head. “Ball on automatic start / I could hand it off to Drake or do a quarterback draw / wildcat offense, check the paw prints.” There is not a better spread offense in college football than Michigan’s this season, making their quarterback “Robinson” the best prospect for running the wildcat formation in the NFL. There have been many athletes who have attempted to make a name in the hip-hop industry. Kobe Bryant has been known for his lyrical abilities, even rapping in different languages. And Shaquille O’Neal was at the forefront of controversy for his freestyle Kobe-diss at a hip-hop club. Ron Artest even released an album during the season when he was suspended for the famous brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich. Artest also has a track featured on NBA 2K11. There have also been some musicians that have taken their athletic abilities to the playing field. Have you ever seen Nelly play in a celebrity basketball or flag football event? The guy can ball. Drake, Carter’s right-hand man, says it best in his song “Thank Me Now,” rapping, “Damn, I swear sports and music are so synonymous / Cause we want to be them, and they want to be us.” Since so many g uys have attempted to be successful in both music and sports, who’s to say that Dwayne Carter couldn’t be the one to pull it off? The guy is on fire in the music industry, producing hits from his

• see VOLLEYBALL | page 14

• see RAHN | page 14

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